Machine for automatically manufacturing sectional buttons.



L. BLUMENTHAL. 1 MACHINE r03 AUTOMATICALLY MANUFACTURING SEOTIONALBUTTONS.

APPLIOATION FILED D20. 28, 1909'.

992,540. Patented May 1 191 1.

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L. BLUMENTHAL. MACHINE FOR AUTOMATICALLY MANUFACTURING SEGTIONALBUTTONS.

' APPLICATION FILED DEG. 28, 1909.

Patented May 16, 1911.

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, L. BLUMENTHAL. MAGHINE FOB AUTOMATICALLY MANUFACTURING SEO'I'IONALBUTTONS.-

APPLICATION FILED DBO. 28,1909.

Patented May 16, 1911.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

THE NazaRJs PEFERS cc WASHINGTON. n c.

L. BLUMENTHAL.

MACHINE FOR AUTOMATICALLY MANUFACTURING SEOTIONAL BUTTONS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 28, 1909.

992,540. Patented May 16, 1911..

6 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

. I Swim/1m I LouzkBZummHaZ @3713 Z1! Wowew L. BLUMENTH AL. v MACHINEFOB. AUTOMATICALLY MANUFACTURING SEGTIONAL BUTTONS;

. APPLICATION IILBD DEG.'28, 1909. 992,540, Patented May 16,1911.

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L. BLUMENTHAL, MAGHINE POE AUTOMATICALLY MANUFACTURING SEGTIONALBUTTONS. APPLICATION rumnno. 2a, 1909.

992,540, Patented May 16, 1911.

A I I; l I 6 QHEETSflSHBF-T a. I y- Y i I A9 s A 3 I LOMHBZIEZQWZ UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE.

MACHINE FOR AUTOMATICALLY MANUFACTURING SEGTIONAL BUTTONS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 16, 1911.

Application filed December 28, 1909. Serial No. 535,258.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LoUIs BLUMENTHAL, 1

a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, in the county ofKings and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvementsin Machines for Automatically hlanufacturing Sectional Buttons, of whichthe following is a specification.

According to the method usually employed in the manufacture of sectionalbuttons, whether covered or uncovered, each and every part is punched ina separate press. A separate press is then required to assemble theparts. I have produced a machine wherein the separate presses arecombined in a single machine and which is so constructed as to workautomatically. The strips of metal from which the metal parts of thebuttons are to be cut and the strips of material to cover the faces ofthe buttons are automatically fed to the machine, the parts of thebutton are automatically cut out and assembled, and complete buttons areproduced and thrown out through a chute at each revolution of themachine.

This invention relates to a machine or apparatus for the manufacture ofbuttons which buttons are of sectional construction or composed ofseveral parts. The buttons can be of plain metal or covered with anysuitable material.

The machine comprises a combination of several punches and plungers andslides supporting the same. These parts are suitably installed to workin harmony with one an other.

The machine also comprises assembllng dies which are arranged to rotateor swivel as presently explained. These dies provide means for combiningthe upper and lower parts of the button. The device can also be providedwith means for continuously moistening the plunger and punches with oilto ease the friction of the same.

This invention is set forth in the following specification and claimsand illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 shows afront elevation of a machine embodying this invention. Fig. 2 is a rearelevation of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an end elevation of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is asectional side elevation looking at the front of the machine the sectionbeing taken vertically through the center of the machine. Fig. 5 is asection along the line x m Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a side elevation ofpressure rods with sectional view of slides containing the same andadjacent parts. Fig. 7 is a view like Fig. 6 showing the assembling diesas having been given a quarter turn from the posi tion indicated in Fig.6. Fig. 8 shows the assembling dies as having been given a half turn toassemble the opposite parts or sections composing the button. Fig. 9shows the assembling dies as having been given an additional quarterturn to discharge the finished button from one of the dies. Fig. 10 is asectional view of a finished button.

In this drawing the button illustrated in Fig. 10 as shown is composedof a metallic top-plate a suitably dished and into which LS pressed asuitable base-plate or disk 7) also dished. A cloth facing 0 can beplaced upon the topplate a and the edge of this disk or cloth 0 can beclamped between this metallic disk a and the lower disk or plate 2).Between the plates a, b is contained a suitable disk d of suitablefilling material such as pasteboard or the like below which is confinedor clamped a disk or strip 6 of buckram or suitable material suitablyelevated or humped to form a shank for attaching the thread to sew thebutton in place. This filling material. prevents the shank material frombeing pulled out of place. I

A reciprocating plunger is shown at f working through a slide g. Securedto the slide and seated about the plunger f is a punch 72.. This slide 9also carries stems i which engage a punch is. When the slide 9 is movedforward the punch It cuts a disk from the metal strip a, while the punch7'; cuts a disk from the strip 0. As the plunger 7 is moved forward saidplunger carries the metal disk from strip a with the cloth disk cut fromstrip 0 toward one of the assembling dies 70. The punch 70 when movedforward compresses springs m which are coiled about stems 0. These stems0 extend from a plate or guide piece a which serves to guide the metalstrip into the machine.

The assembling die 79 is adapted to swivel or turn about a suitable stemor support 1 and this die carries a cup like former or shaper T which issuitably pressed or held forward in the die by a spring 8. When theplunger f moves the metal a with cloth 0 forward through the guide piecea into the former r the metal is dished and the cloth or l material 0 islapped over the metal for the two to be seated in the former 1".Opposite the first named die is another die i also mounted to swivel ona support it. Another plunger 2 is mounted to reciprocate through aslide 23 carrying a punch 4; which punch is adapted to cut a disk from astrip of metal from which is cut plate or disk Z) This plunger 2 carriesa perforator or prong 5 for perforating the disk 7) to allow theprojection of the buckram shank 6 above referred to. When the metal disk7) has been rimmed or given a dish shape by its insertion or beingforced through the guide piece a the disk Z) is inserted into the die tsee Fig. (3 and the dies are given a quarter turn to bring them to theposition indicated in Fig. 7. In this position the die 1? presents themetal disk 7) to the tubular punch 7. The card-board (Z and buckram abeing cut into circular shape by having forced thereagainst the punch 7said card-board and buckram disks are forced through this tubular punch7 into the metallic disk I) in the 7 die 1. The dies p, t are then givena quarter turn to bring them to the position indicated in Fig. 8. Inthis position the dies 72, t present the disk sections (4 7/ to oneanother and the formers containing these disk sections are pressedtogether by their plungers S, 9 being pressed by levers 10 and .11. Theassembling dies 79, 25 are then given another quarter turn to theposition indicated in F 9. The free ends of the levers 10 and 11 aresomewhat curved as shown in Figs. 8 and 9 and when the dies are turnedto the position shown in Fig. 9 these free ends of the levers will pressand hold plungers 8 and 9 somewhat out of the dies so that the completedbutton will fall out of the dies and be delivered through chute 12.\Vhether the button should adhere to one die or another, would in suchcase make no difference as to the delivery of the button into the chute12.

A guide for the card-board or filling ma terial (Z and for the shankmaterial a is formed in a bracket or fixed arm (3. Against this bracket-6 acts the tubular cutter 7 which is oscillated at suitable moments by anose on the rock shaft 14:. The plunger 15 moves transversely to thedirection of motion of the plungers and 2. This plunger 15 forces thecardboard disk and shank material through the cutter 7 to the assemblingdie. The plunger 15 is held or eleated by a spring 16 and is depressedat suitable moments by the arm 17 actuated by a nose or cam piece 18.The rock shaft 14 is oscillated at suitable moments by its depending arm19 being engaged by said nose orram 18 which is mounted on the shaft 20.

The levers 10 and 11 which compress the plungers in the assembling diestoward one another are each in form of a bell crank lever and are linkedtogether or caused to move in unison by means of a pin and slotconnection. T he pin connection is indicated at 21. The actuating armfor these bell crank levers is shown at 22 and extends into contact witha cam or nose on the rotary shaft 20.

The rotation or oscillation of the assembling dies is effected by a rack2st engaging gear wheels mounted on the shafts or supports y, a on theassembling dies. This double faced rack 24 is engaged and reciprocatedby a suitably shaped or grooved cam 25 Fig. 2 mounted on the rotaryshaft 20.

The plungers and 2 are pressed toward one another by means of levers 26which are each of the same construction. Each lever 20 has its fulcrum27 fixed in the frame of the machine and is moved in one direction orthe plunger retracted by springs 28. The levers 26 are actuated to movethe plungers toward one another by means of a cam 29 comprising twowings and mounted on the shaft 20. Each of the levers 26 has an arm 30which by means of a pin and slot connection engages the bell crank lever31. These bell crank levers 31 engage the slides t and 3 respectively soas to move the slides at the proper time when the plnngers are moved.The slides and 3 are actuated between blocks 32 which can be set to andfrom one another as required by means of set screws 33. On thestationary blocks 32 are mounted spindles for supplying the strips a and(2. These strips are unrolled and fed into the machine by rollers il-lwhich are actuated at suitable moments by ratchets and pawls 85 (Fig. 2)pivoted to the slides g and 3.

The covering material or cloth (2 can be. omitted if it is desired toleave the faceplate a exposed. The filling material (Z and shankmaterial 0 can be supplied from rolls suitably supported as on astandard as indicated at 86 Fig. The strips (Z can be fed betweenrollers 37 suitably actuated by means of a ratchet and pawl as indicatedat 2-38. The pawl. can be suitably actuated by a projection or tappetprojecting from the support or swivel u.

Oil for lubrication of the cutters or punches can be supplied bysuitable means as by a ring of absorbent material indicated at 39 whichcan be supplied or moistened with oil in suitable manner.

The strips a b and c are led from the reels and guided between rollers34. Each of the lower pairs of these rollers is provided with a ratchetwheel 35. Suitable pawls pivoted to the slides g and 3 (see Fig. 2)engage these ratchet wheels at each movement of the slides tointermittently rotate them. The strips 1] and e are guided betweenrollers 37. the lower roller having a ratchet wheel adapted to beengaged by a pawl 38 pivoted to a spring pressed sliding bracket, which,when engaged by the projection on a disk fastened to the journal u,

slides the bracket against the spring to tension it and giveintermittent motion to the ratchet as seen in Fig. 5.

It will be seen that when the journal 11 is oscillated it swings theprojection on the disk out of contact with the bracket and the action ofthe spring slides the bracket toward the journal. The pawl then movesinto engagement with one of the teeth on the ratchet.

From the foregoing description it will be understood that the feedrollers feed predetermined lengths of strips to the guides and onlyafter the metal has been punched, the cloth, cardboard and buckram cutand pushed into the dies, and the plungers retracted. The plungers f and2 are caused to move toward the die by levers 26 and both plungers comeinto contact with the metal strips (5 and I) which in the interval hadbeen punched by the tools it and et. At the same time the puncturingtool 5 has perforated the disk 6. These disks are of the same diameteras the guides 41 and n and are then pushed by the plungers toward thedies until they impinge on the shoulders in the said guides where theyare rimmed. The punches then remain stationary while the plungers pushthe rimmed disks farther toward the dies. The plunger f, when movingtoward its die, slides in a bushing fixed to the guide 2', said bushingbeing practically of the same diameter as the plunger. The knife k,which is adapted to slide on the bushing, has in the meanwhile beenactuated to cut from the strip 0 a circular piece of cloth of largerdiameter than the rimmed disk. The plunger then pushes the disk and thecloth facing until they arrive at the second shoulder adjacent to theknife where the cloth is shaped and lapped about the rimmed portion ofthe disk and both are pushed into the die 29 (see Fig. 6). The dies arethen oscillated to the position shown in Fig. 7. The strips of cardboard(Z and buckram e are then cut by actuating the knife 7 and the plunger15 then slides downward, pushing and at the same time shaping aprotuberance into the cardboard and the buckram and forcing them intothe rimmed perforated disk Z) in the die If. The dies then oscillate tothe position shown in Fig. 8 and the rods 8 and 9 are then actuated bymeans of levers l0 and 11 to push them toward one another and press thecloth faced disk (5 and the perforated disk I) with its filling orstiflener of cardboard and buckram toward one another, thus uniting thesections together. The dies then oscillate but before they assume theposition shown in Fig. 9 the finished button has been forced out of thedies and gravitated into the chute.

The finished button comprises a disk a provided with a rim, the face ofwhich has a cloth cover 0 looped about the rim forming the front portionof the button. The rimmed disk 1) forms the back of the but ton, thebuckram e and the cardboard cl are located between the respective disksa and b and the buckram isprovided with a protuberance which extends outof the perforated part of the disk, whereby the button can be sewed to agarment.

I claim 1. In a device of the kind described a pair of plungers withassembling dies, guides for strips of material adjacent to the plungersto be passed thereby into the dies, supports to allow swinging of theassembling dies and a chute to receive the article discharged from thedies.

2. In a device of the kind described a pair of plungers with assemblingdies, guides for strips of material adjacent to the plungers to bepassed thereby into the dies, circular cutters adjacent to the dies tocut blanks from the strips, supports to allow swinging of the dies, anda chute to receive articles discharged from the dies.

3. In a device of the kind described a pair of plungers with assemblingdies, guides for strips of material adjacent to the plungers to bepassed thereby into the dies, supports to allow swinging of theassembling dies a chute to receive the article discharged from the dies,and a plunger placed at an angle to the first mentioned plungers andcombined with a tubular cutter adapted to cut and apply fillingmaterial, said last mentioned plunger being adapted to insert thefilling and shank material into an assembling die section when inposition under the last mentioned plunger.

4. A device of the kind described comprising a pair of plungers andslides, cutters actuated by the slides, oscillatory dies for receivingand shaping material fed by the plungers, a transversely placed plungerwith tubular cutter in line with one of the dies, a plunger in each ofthe dies and levers for actuating the plungers in the dies to compressthe material between the dies and to eject the article from the dies.

5. In a device of the kind described a pair of plungers with assemblingdies, guides for strips of material adjacent to the plungers to bepassed thereby into the dies, supports to allow swinging of theassembling dies and a chute to receive the article discharged from thedies, gears and a rack for oscillating the dies and a cam for actuatingthe rack.

6. In a device of the kind described the combination with plungers anddies, means for pivoting the dies, slides for guiding the plungers,cutters actuated by the slides, feeding rollers to lead material to thecutters and ratchets with pawls actuated by the slides to rotate thefeeding rollers.

7 In a device of the kind described the combination with plungers anddies, means for swiveling the dies, slides for guiding the plungers,cutters actuated by the slides, feeding rollers to lead material to thecutters, ratchets with pawls actuated by the slides to rotate thefeeding rollers, a plunger placed transversely to the first mentionedplungers, a tubular cutter placedin line with the angularly placedplunger, a feeding roller to lead material to the angularly placedplunger and a ratchet and pawl engaged by one of the swiveling dies tofeed material to the angularly placed plunger.

8. In a device of the kind described the combination with plunger-s anddies, means for swiveling the dies, slides for guiding the plungers,cutters actuated by the slides, lubricating rings in the paths of thecutters,

feeding rollers to lead material to the cutters, ratchets with pawlsactuated by the slides to rotate the feeding rollers, a plunger placedtransversely to the first mentioned plungers, a tubular cutter placed inline with the angularly placed plunger, a feeding roller to leadmaterial to the angularly placed plunger and a ratchet and pawl engagedby one of the swiveling dies to feed material to the angularly placedplunger.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

LOUIS BLUMENTIIAL.

IVitnesses IV. C. I-IAUFF, CHRISTIAN Amis'rnnoir.

Zopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, 1). C.

